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Aust Muslim leaders wary of London attack backlash

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Australian Muslims are being urged to be alert to the possibility of a local backlash after the deadly terrorist attack in London this week.

The Australian Muslim Youth Network has sent texts and emails warning Muslims to avoid arguments about their faith and steer clear of anti-Islamic protests which have been planned for some Australian cities.

Muslim community leaders say they fear there could be retaliation in Australia for what happened this week in London.

Stephanie Smail reports.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Muslim leaders in Australia have condemned the London attack, describing it as a heinous act of murder.

But they're still worried about local confrontations.

Dr Mohammed Abdullah is from the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies at Griffith University. He's also a member of Queensland's Council of Imams.

He says the backlash after the September 11 attacks in the United States is still fresh in many people's minds.

MOHAMMED ABDULLAH: Two weeks after that our local mosque was totally burnt down to the ground, and also ladies with head scarves were abused verbally and physically.

The local bus that takes children to the Islamic College of Brisbane was also stoned.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: This week, the Australian Muslim Youth Network has sent messages to members across the country urging them to be careful.

The message says: "some people may harm innocent Muslims in return, so be cautious".

It continues: "please do not enter into discussions or arguments in emotional situations as it could be gravely misunderstood".

Dr Mohammed Abdullah says Islamic leaders have also been urging their congregations to stay away from rallies or protests.

MOHAMMED ABDULLAH: We say, look, if someone speaks to you, you just remain calm and be polite and civil. Answer any question about Islam in the best possible way, but if anyone tries to argue viciously or becomes violent then just walk away and if need be we speak to the police.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Dr Abdullah says the wider community is much more accepting of the Muslim faith now than around the time of the September 11 bombing.

MOHAMMED ABDULLAH: I've noticed, and so did the other leaders, that the incidence of backlash really diminished with the passage of time. So after the Bali bombings, the Madrid bombing, the London bombing, the Boston bombing and now this horrible incident in London, the backlash, as far as we know, has been very, very minimum.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: But he says there's still cause for caution.

MOHAMMED ABDULLAH: The scars of the mosques being burnt and other mosques being fire bombed and sisters being attacked and elderly people being attacked is still fresh in the minds of people, and so they don't want to end up in the same situation.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Dr Mohammed Abdullah from Queensland's Council of Imams ending that report from Stephanie Smail in Brisbane.

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